Reading will play hosts to Chelsea on Wednesday as the potential relegation zone club looks to keep their dreams alive next season.
(Photo: Reuters/Darren Staples)England's John Terry catches the ball during a soccer training session in London Colney, north of London, September 3, 2012.Brian McDermott will be sure to focus his club when Chelsea visits Madejski Stadium with the hopes that his team will beat Chelsea for the first time in league play in over 80 years.
Reading has not beat Chelsea in a league match since 1930. Their recent record against the Blues in all competitions is not that much better, given that they have lost six of their last seven matches.
Even with Reading's low position in the league, they have been playing well as of late, with only one loss in their last seven games in all competitions coupled with four straight wins.
The Royals were able to overcome Sheffield United 4-0 in a fourth-round FA Cup tie last Saturday and they beat a fluttering Newcastle side 2-1 during their last Premier League match.
For Chelsea and manager Rafa Benitez, the recent complacency and poor showing in both the league and domestic competitions have left calls for Benitez to be fired to become even louder. The Spaniard doesn't seem to be worried about what fans may say, however, and will remain focused on preparing his club to win.
"If I talk about what the fans are chanting, we'll talk about it every week. I was talking with Frank and John and David Luiz, about football, and they know the way to change things in football is winning. We were winning nine days ago. We have to start doing that again," Benitez told reporters during a press conference.
"All I can say is what I know: I have had meetings with Michael Emenalo. We were talking about the situation and it's clear for me the priority is the top four and progressing as much as we can in the other competitions," he added.
Kick-off for the match is at 3:00 p.m. ET and can be watched online here.
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